Jeremiah 16:2-12

2 non accipies uxorem et non erunt tibi filii et filiae in loco isto

3 quia haec dicit Dominus super filios et filias qui generantur in loco isto et super matres eorum quae genuerunt eos et super patres eorum de quorum stirpe sunt nati in terra hac

4 mortibus aegrotationum morientur non plangentur et non sepelientur in sterquilinium super faciem terrae erunt et gladio et fame consumentur et erit cadaver eorum in escam volatilibus caeli et bestiis terrae

5 haec enim dicit Dominus ne ingrediaris domum convivii neque vadas ad plangendum neque consoleris eos quia abstuli pacem meam a populo isto dicit Dominus misericordiam et miserationes

6 et morientur grandes et parvi in terra ista non sepelientur neque plangentur et non se incident neque calvitium fiet pro eis

7 et non frangent inter eos lugenti panem ad consolandum super mortuo et non dabunt eis potum calicis ad consolandum super patre suo et matre

8 et domum convivii non ingredieris ut sedeas cum eis et comedas et bibas

9 quia haec dicit Dominus exercituum Deus Israhel ecce ego auferam de loco isto in oculis vestris et in diebus vestris vocem gaudii et vocem laetitiae vocem sponsi et vocem sponsae

10 et cum adnuntiaveris populo huic omnia verba haec et dixerint tibi quare locutus est Dominus super nos omne malum grande istud quae iniquitas nostra et quod peccatum nostrum quod peccavimus Domino Deo nostro

11 dices ad eos quia dereliquerunt patres vestri me ait Dominus et abierunt post deos alienos et servierunt eis et adoraverunt eos et me dereliquerunt et legem meam non custodierunt

12 sed et vos peius operati estis quam patres vestri ecce enim ambulat unusquisque post pravitatem cordis sui mali ut me non audiat

Jeremiah 16:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO JEREMIAH 16

In this chapter the ruin and destruction of the Jews is set forth, and confirmed by the prophet's being forbid to be merry, or to go into the house of feasting or mourning, with the reasons thereof; also the sins of the people, the cause of it, are pointed at; and afterwards a promise of their restoration is made; and the chapter is concluded with a prayer of the prophet, pressing his faith in the divine protection, and in the calling of the Gentiles. After the preface or introduction, Jer 16:1, the prophet is forbid to take a wife, or have any children, with the reason of it; because that parents and children would die of grievous deaths unlamented, and not be buried, Jer 16:2-4 and he is also forbid to go into the house of mourning, because peace, lovingkindness, and mercy, were taken from the people, and both great and small would die, and no lamentation be made for them, nor have any burial also, Jer 16:5-7, nor might he go into the house of feasting, because the voice of joy and gladness would cease out of the land, Jer 16:8,9, and upon the people's inquiring the reason of all this, the prophet is bid to tell them, that it was for their forsaking the Lord and his worship, and for their idolatrous practices; of which they were more guilty than their forefathers, and therefore would be cast out of the land, and carried captive into a strange country, Jer 16:10-13 but, after all this, they should be restored again to their own land, and have a greater deliverance than that out of Egypt, as they themselves would own, Jer 16:14,15 but before this would be, fishers and hunters should be sent to distress them, and all because of their iniquities, which God's eye was upon, and would recompense, Jer 16:16-18, and the chapter is closed with the prophet's prayer, in which he expresses his faith in the Lord, and in the conversion of the Gentiles, who would be convinced of their idolatry, and made to know the power and name of the Lord, Jer 16:19,20.